§ 52. Mr. Rostasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with progress towards improved thermal insulation on new and existing homes in the private and public sector.
§ Mr. ArmstrongAs far as new houses are concerned, mandatory requirements for thermal insulation are included within the building regulations, and the standards of insulation required are kept under review. The wide variety of structures within the existing housing stock presents more difficulty, but the installation of insulation to the building regulations standard is a condition of payment of renovation grants under the Housing Act 1974. There are, however, very large numbers of existing dwellings which still lack any form of thermal insulation, and I am considering with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy what measures can be taken to remedy this situation.